Charlie was watching her Dad from across the table. Eating breakfast together in the mornings had become something they had started to do when he moved into the hotel.

Most days they had pancakes or some other hot meal. Her dad insisted on wearing his 'Kiss the Chef' apron and being present. Though he wasn't really present at the moment.

Today they were eating cereal and her father was glancing at his phone between bites. It was facing up next to his bowl.

Did she forget to mention that this was the 3rd day of his smitten behavior.

"Are we going to have to have a no phones at the table rule?" She jokes as she takes a bite of cereal.

Lucifer looks up and as he does so he flips his phone so that the screen is down, "No. No. Nooo. You have my full attention. What did you say?"

She chuckled, "Sooo, How's the dating app going? What's their name?"

"It's about DAMN Time!" Lucifer had been wanting to talk to Charlie about Mia. He had his reserves though. You know because its not like he was talking to Charlie's mother.

And even though Charlie was the one to encourage him he worried about her having doubts.

"Her name is Mia. She does deals for a living and actually gets summoned for said projects on Earth. She doesn't go into details on what the clients want but oftentimes it involves schools, hospitals, and areas that they want cleaning up."

Charlie listened as her Dad's voice grew in enthusiasm and volume between bites.

"She had a daughter that she just got over mourning. Her name was Natalie and was a casualty in some gang violence." He starts to talk with his hands, his spoon making random motions with his words, "Said she lives in the slums but was not specific as to where but with gang violence and slums I can go off of she probably lives in Camilla's District."

"Mia likes plants too. Says she's always killing them but still always coming home with them. Cannibal Town has plants." He sits upright, "Maybe I should get a plant."

"Slow down Dad." Charlie smiles, "Sounds like you're enjoying her. Who else are you talking to?"

"Oh. I'm not talked to anyone else." He shakes his head absentmindedly while he flips over his phone, excited to hear a quack.

Charlie was a bit taken. Her dad really dived into it, she wondered if this is what it was like when he was seeing her mom.

"Where you like this with Mom."

The air grew silent around them.

Lucifer slouches and is grounded by the question, "No. Not at all. Technology wasn't a thing. And it's not like there was competition, she was the only human. Courting Lily," He pauses thinking about the past, "It was so easy and it came so naturally." He looks up at Charlie, "No one can replace your Mother. I will delete the app and stop talking to Mia if it makes you uncomfortable."

"No. No. Fuck no. I want you to be happy and it sounds like Mia makes you happy."

It was hot as hell and Mia was grateful to be taking a break. Her friend Harmony had invited her for lunch and she was looking forward to some air conditioning.

She made her way to the restaurant and appreciated that her friend was waiting out front for her.

"You couldn't change?" Harmony looked her up and down with some judgment. Denim short overalls with paint smudges all over it and even some on her skin.

"Bitch, This is my break. I'm the artist." She gestures to her clothes, "And you are the curator." She motions to the Devil Wears Prada outfit.

Harmony shrugs, "Is the paint wet?"

Mia starts to pat the different spots, "No."

And that she is greeted with a hug from her friend, Harmony laughing in her ear, "I'm just giving you a hard time." And takes her into the fancy restaurant.

It was fancy, out of Mia's budget fancy. But it was McDonald's money for Harmony.

They sat at the table across from each other.

"Tell me about this guy you've been talking to. You said his name was Lou."

Mia felt like she was floating just thinking about Lou. She definitely had a crush on him.

"Okay, So he is a father and his daughter, Charlie, is turning a hotel into a rehabilitation center. He is currently helping her with that but he also sounds like he may have been in the corporate setting. Talks about how it's a nice break from having meetings with different district overlords." She laughs to herself, "He's really funny and he likes rubber ducks... and tinkers with invention work as a hobby."

She stopped talking when the waitress came to the table and they ordered their food. When they are left alone again Harmony speaks up.

"What you're telling me is. He is a doting dad with money and extra time to spare for hobbies and you're absolutely smitten."

"Basically."

"So, what's the catch?"

Mia raises a brow and accepts the red wine from the waitress as she comes and goes, "What do you mean?"

"I mean, if the guy is so perfect then why isn't he taken? What happened to Charlie's mom? What's he look like? What size is his dick?"

Harmony's language throws off the waitress as she comes and puts down a small plate of rolls. Mia can only tell because of the big round eyes as she retreats.

"Well, he said that his ex-wife left about 8 years ago."

"Why?" Her friend raises a brow while taking a drink of her wine.

"Ghh." Mia picks up her glass and takes a few gulps, "Khhh, I don't know Harmony. I wondered why Natalie's dad didn't stay around after she was born. Why aren't you letting me have this?"

"Because I worry for you. You don't make a lot of money doing the mural commissions. The deals are okay and I know you enjoy the big projects but your art is amazing." They both move their drinks and bodies for the runner to place their food in front of them, "You have the best bitchin art curator in town as your friend and you're not abusing me and what I have to offer."

Harmony finishes her drink and holds up the glass as a sign for a refill. Someone came with a bottle of wine promptly.

"I'm not trying to ruin this for you Mia." Her friend snaps at the waitress and points to Mia's glass, "Does he at least have a big dick?"

Mia felt so bad for the young waitress as they filled her wine glass, "I wouldn't know."

Harmony sighs in defeat, "I expect at least a picture of the guy the next time we have lunch."

She was lounging around thinking about Harmony's words when her phone went off.

"My day consisted of organizing a surprise party for one resident and making sure that one of the new ones didn't eat the others alive. May have to send them back to Cannibal Town."

Mia snorts at the metaphors and pulls the cozy blanket on the couch up over her.

"Everyone deserves a chance for change. Even the more difficult ones."

Lou: "You sound like Charlie."

Mia: "You raised a smart girl."

Lou: "I sure as shit did! How was your day?"

Mia physically laughs out loud. She wasn't one to curse often but she noticed that it was in Lou's everyday language. It was a good thing she was friends with Harmony and was used to that type of speech.

Mia: "Went to lunch with a friend today. Fancy ass restaurant that needed reservations. I was still wearing my work clothes and looked like a mess. While I was in the area I got a new plant."

Lou: "I'm sure you looked beautiful in whatever you were wearing."

Mia blushes and bites her lip. She typed without thinking. If she thought too much she'd chicken out. Or in this case duck out.

Mia: "Can I have a picture of you?"

Read.

And then there was nothing for what felt like forever. She was about to panic. Her heart was racing and she told herself that she'd delete the app and never date again. But then her phone dinged with a photo.

It must have been a Halloween photo of him and his daughter. Blonde hair, pale skin, thin, and he was shorter than his daughter which was kind adorable. Their outfits looked designer and the demon devil costumes fit them well.

In the spirit of the photo she sent the Halloween photo of her and Natalie that was her screen saver.

Lou: "I told you you were beautiful."